The Storyteller

By: Jodi Picoult

Narrated by: Mozhan Marno, Jennifer Ikeda, Edoardo Ballerini, Suzanne Toren, Fred Berman

Length: 18 hrs and 13 mins

Publisher's summary

Jodi Picoult's poignant number one New York Times best-selling novels about family and love tackle hot-button issues head on. In The Storyteller, Sage Singer befriends Josef Weber, a beloved Little League coach and retired teacher. But then Josef asks Sage for a favor she never could have imagined - to kill him. After Josef reveals the heinous act he committed, Sage feels he may deserve that fate. But would his death be murder or justice?

©2013 Jodi Picoult (P)2013 Recorded Books

Beyond hopes, let alone expectations

I will admit that I am a longtime fan of Jodi Picoult but this book ranks very high, possibly the best. I was able to foresee most of the twists but actually "living" the story rendered that irrelevant. I was truly riveted.

The performance was OUTSTANDING. Each of the 4 narrators were spectacular as well as each reader's performance exemplary. When a male character lapses into a quite decent Katherine Hepburn, I was blown away. The voices, accents and inflections were spot on!

I very highly recommend this book. I think it is well worth a peek regardless of personal views of the subject matter or the author.

Words escape me... Picoult's finest work!

This is much more than your usual Picoult novel. In fact, it is one of my favorite books of the last few years. Extremely sincere, graceful, moving, with a fresh perspective on holocaust survivors and war criminals.

I was very taken with this book. Very difficult to put down.

Narration is perfect.

Picoult has regained her writing ability.

I've read or listened to Jodi Picoult's books since her first novel was published. Sadly the past several have not been up to the first ones. "The Storyteller" is a big jump back to good writing.

Because I've listened to many of her stories I'm quite used to the variety of narrators and, as usual, I think this system of narrating greatly adds to the story.

Not a 5 star, but a good solid 4 star listen I highly recommend.

WONDERFUL!!

Loved this book. The characters are done so well I felt like I knew them. Lots of history steeped into this as well. I thought I had it figured out towards the end but got thrown a surprise. I wont spoil it for you. Great Listen worth the credit!

All the Right Elements

This book had all the right elements for a great read: it was a good story that had many levels, the writing was good, there were lessons about history, as well as philosophical or ethical questions to ponder.

I loved the way there were 3 different stories going on at once. First there is the story of Sage and her struggle with how to interact with Joseph Weber and her meeting Leo. Then there is Minka’s story of the Upior, based on an old Polish fairy tale. This was interesting as a parallel and a metaphor for many of the actions and horrors that occurred in the book. The third and, to me, the most dramatic story was that of Minka herself and her path into and finally out of two different German concentration camps. The author very skillfully weaves these 3 story lines together in such a way that each story line adds to and helps to develop the other.

Spoiler alert here: I had trouble putting the book down! If I have any criticism, it’s with the ending. I’m not sure that the big switch in the character of Joseph Weber at the end was necessary or very well explained. Also, the idea that Sage pulls off her final act but seems to have no intention of sharing it or talking about it with Leo seems unrealistic. OR perhaps I’m unconvinced that she really could or would pull off this final decision. I feel like this final section was, perhaps, rushed or underdeveloped in relation to all that had come before. However, this didn't spoil my enjoyment of the book overall.

I highly recommend it.

Gripping

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would recommend this book. The narration was done by very talented individuals.

What did you like best about this story?

The ending was surprising and not expected. So many details of the story kept you hanging on.

Some authors try to capture an audience many adjectives and numerous descriptions that leave little for imagination; this often bores me. This author secured my attention with critical details and a provoking story. If you like to think while you listen and reflect consistently, this is the book for you.

Which character – as performed by the narrators – was your favorite?

Mila, Her voice was so genuine. It never sounded as if she was reading text but revealing accounts as if they just happened. If was captured by her tone, pauses and her pitch. I have listened to this book twice and I'm about to start the third time.

riveting!!!!!!

Where does The Storyteller rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

top 5

What does the narrators bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

the narrators succeed in bringing each character to life

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

the entire section devoted to her grandmothers story was captivating. I became completely lost in the tale and when it returned to the current day portion of the story I had honestly forgotten all about the original premise for the book.

Any additional comments?

Jodi Picoult continues to create classic reads that will endure. highly recommended.

Captivating, Riviting, Hard to stop listening

I have to say, this goes down as one of the best books I've ever read. This book was not what I expected. It starts out present day, then you are drawn back to the late 1930's, through the life of a Jewish girl. The story is wonderfully told, as she lives through the horror of a Jew living in Poland during WW2. I've read Unbroken, the true story of Louis Venturini and have never read a book with such detail about that horrible time, until this book. The story was told flawlessly, with great detail. Narration was spot on. The present day story was mixed in, which was perfectly woven. I loved how the author mixed in a fictional story within the ficitional novel. It was just a masterfully written book. It was very hard to stop listening to it.

Compelling

It was hard to put this one down. Well written and narrated. Very interesting ending.

More gruesome than I expected

The story is good, although a bit contrived. I didn’t realize I was getting into a WWII concentration camp
narrative.